Dandong sits at the estuary of the Yalu river which forms the border between China and North Korea. It has become the largest border city in China and is the main location where foreigners can enter North Korea by land. The main station serves as the border post as it is only possible to cross by train.
The city itself is very Chinese but boasts a wide range of Korean food and is a unique centre of travel for the large number of North Koreans who commute across the border to work in this area of China.
Basic Travel Information
- Province – Liaoning
- Season to Visit – Not in winter for the best chance to explore
- Route there – Train from Dalian or Shenyang
- Duration: At least 2 days
- Recommended: Yes if on the way to North Korea, otherwise I wouldn’t rate it highly
My Story
I stayed in Dandong either side of my tour into North Korea (which I promise I will finish writing about soon!)
The city seemed interesting, especially around the riverfront but the NorthEast of China is simply too cold in winter for me. I didn’t explore much of the city and focused on food and meeting other travellers who would be joining me for the tour.
The thing that struck me most about the city was the extraordinary contrast at the river. Especially at night the two sides demonstrate clearly the difference in development of the two countries. Dandong was bright and modern with a huge array of tower blocks along the river, all lit up in typical Chinese city fashion. Sinuiju across the river was pitch black with almost no visible sign that it is even there once the sun goes down. The Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge stretches over the river, bright lights flashing in a way that to me only seemed to emphasise how dark the other side of the river appeared.
In daylight it is less obvious but the condition of the city across the river can still be made out, including the grounded ships on the shore. The bridge also shows a different site, with the ruined remains of the old bridge left intact next to the new one to highlight the damage caused to this area in the Korean War. All in all the entire view made me even more curious about the tour I was about to take.
Places Nearby & Trip Planning
Include in a trip through Northeast China along with:
- Dalian
- Shenyang
- Changchun
- Harbin
- Harbin Siberia Tiger Park
- Heavenly Lake
- North Korea
When to Visit
I would not advise travelling here in winter as it will be too cold for exploring the city and surroundings pleasantly. A tour to Dandong and North Korea can be done at any time of year.
However if you are on a trip around the Northeast then winter is by far the most special time to do it.
Further Information
These websites were my favourite sources of general information for this location:
Last Updated: January 2020
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